Gov.-elect Hassan seeks input on budget from three outreach teams

CONCORD - Governor-elect Maggie Hassan on Monday announced the creation of three "Innovation Outreach Teams" to help her get Granite Staters' input on issues as she develops a budget for the next two fiscal years and try to implement her overall "innovation plan."

The teams will focus on the state Budget, Business Outreach and Office Administration, with additional teams to be announced later in the week, according to a statement from Hassan's transition office.

"My Transition Outreach Teams will communicate with businesses, community leaders, legislators and all those who want to contribute their ideas as we work to develop a balanced budget and build a stronger, more innovative New Hampshire economy," Hassan said.

The Business Outreach team includes Hassan transition co-chair and former Department of Resources and Economic Development (DRED) Commissioner Sean O'Kane; former DRED Commissioner George Bald; Executive Director of the New Hampshire Manufacturing Extension Partnership Zenagui Brahim; and Gray Chynoweth, chief operating officer of Dyn, an internet services company in Manchester.

The budget team will be led by former Health and Human Services Commissioner and state Sen. Kathy Sgambati; John Beardmore, director of administration for the Department of Safety and budget director for Gov. John Lynch; John Wallace, a retired associate commissioner of HHS; and Joseph Bouchard, assistant commissioner of administrative services.

Hassan's office administration team includes Alice Chamberlin, former assistant to Lynch for natural resources, energy and transportation policy; Jennifer Frizzell, former Senate Policy Director and adviser to Planned Parenthood of Northern New England; Steve Gordon, an attorney and director at Shaheen and Gordon; and Michael Vlacich, former director of the state division of economic development and state director for U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.